Electric car for European market

General Motors has announced plans to launch the Chevrolet Volt electric car in the European market, where it will be badged as an Opel – General Motors German manufacturer – and promoted in line with plans to expand the model range in the overseas market.

A much anticipated and awaited vehicle, the Volt is has met with such enthusiasm and approval at General Motors and has been such an encouragement during development that the company is beginning work on a number of further electric vehicles.

The Volt, and other derivatives, is powered by an innovative five-foot long, 400-volt battery, the design of which enables more flexibility in design and achieves notable economies of scale across the product range.

Development on more models

There are at least two further models currently at development stage, both of which are past that of scale model development in the Volt studio, a research and development unit specialising in the area of electric vehicles and employing almost 50 personnel.

It is believed that one of these models is being developed specifically as an Opel, with the European market in mind.

With the concern over the availability of fossil fuels very much evident, electric vehicles are seen by many as the answer to a problem that is very close at hand, and the demise of the internal combustion engine is held as a very real prospect in the near future. The automobile industry needs to survive beyond that point, and cars such as the Volt are heralded as the future.

Promotion ongoing

The Volt has been developed in the public eye, with promotion at all stages of development since the original concept was displayed at motor shows last year, and the production version is planned for sale as soon a 2010.

The single platform concept, in which costs can be spread across a number of models using the same components, is a tried and tested method of development and production cost efficiency, and will be used across GM’s electric car range.

The Volts battery has a life span on 10 years and a proposed range of 40 miles, and will be rechargeable from a standard mains socket or by in-motion recharging from a small internal combustion engine with a fuel consumption of 150 miles to the gallon.

Japanese manufacturer Toyota is also planning an electric car, but that version will be powered by both battery and petrol motors.

General Motors is inviting tenders for the production of the Volt’s innovative battery, with LG Chem of South Korea and A123Systems of Boston the two major groups in contention.